Analysis

The EU going forward will have to review whether it is too dependent on Russia for energy. Whether EU officials realised it or not they have got drawn into a much bigger and more dangerous game than pressing for enlargement.

So, this week the challenge for the EU must be to show resolve and unity. Any divisions will be exploited by Russia. Resolve will be to deliver on consequences warned about.

The crisis follows the ousting of Ukraine's pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych on 22 February.

His decision to reject a long-awaited trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Moscow sparked months of street protests, culminating in deadly clashes.

Ukraine's interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has called the vote "a circus performance" backed up by "21,000 Russian troops, who with their guns are trying to prove the legality of the referendum".

The vote was boycotted by many among Crimea's minority Ukrainians and Tatars - who constitute about a third of the population - and the election process has been widely criticised.

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Media captionThe BBC's Ben Brown says a "huge number of people in the minority population" abstained from Sunday's vote

Crimea's declaration

According to the declaration approved by Crimean MPs, the region:

becomes an independent state and applies to formally join Russia, with some autonomy

will adopt the Russia rouble as its currency within a month

will move to Moscow time (GMT+4 and two hours ahead of Kiev time) on 30 March

will offer Crimean soldiers the chance to join Russian military

Meanwhile, the parliament in Kiev has formally approved the partial mobilisation of 40,000 reservists.

Andriy Parubiy, secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, said what had taken place in Crimea was "blatant aggression" and that the mobilisation would prevent similar action in south-eastern Ukraine, which has seen pro-Moscow rallies in recent weeks.

'Budget doubled'

According to the vote in Crimea's parliament on Monday, Ukrainian laws now no longer apply in the region, and all Ukrainian state property belongs to an independent Crimea.

The peninsula will adopt the Russian currency, the rouble, and clocks will move two hours forward to Moscow time by the end of March.

The document approved by MPs also appealed to "all countries of the world" to recognise Crimean independence.

Crimea's pro-Russia leader Sergei Aksyonov tweeted that in the wake of the vote, Moscow had given Crimea financial assistance amounting to 15bn roubles ($410m: £246m), which he said doubled the region's budget.

He said he was travelling immediately to Moscow to discuss the next steps.

The EU - which has already suspended talks on an economic pact with Russia and an easing of visa restrictions - is discussing its response.

Speaking in Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the "so-called referendum" was illegal under Ukrainian international law, and called on Russia to begin a dialogue with Kiev to "try to move to de-escalation as quickly as possible".

The EU "can't simply sit back and say this situation can be allowed to happen", she added.

The bloc hoped to send "the strongest possible signals to Russia, a signal trying to ensure that they understand the seriousness of the situation".

EU foreign ministers are expected to discuss a possible visa ban and an asset freeze against a number of Russian officials.

The White House has described Russia's actions in Crimea as "dangerous and destabilising", and said the international community would not recognise the results of a poll "administered under threats of violence".

Are you in Crimea? Did you vote in the referendum? What are your views on the result? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the subject heading 'Crimea vote'.

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